Defense and Promotion of Human Rights and the Environment
Representation at the UN
and organisation of events
Events
featured
Drums for the earth
To celebrate the Summer Solstice and the beginning of the half-year session of the Human Rights Council in 2021, we organized a drum circle, with the installation of a tipi and a haima (traditional house of the Saharawi people, in Western Sahara) in the Place de Nations. The drum is a ritual instrument used worldwide by many indigenous peoples to connect with the earth. In Europe for instance, the Sami people use it in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. In Basel, Switzerland, there is a long-standing custom connected to drumbeats.
Word Circle
As a complement to the EMRIP's regular sessions, we have installed an intercultural tipi in the Place de Nation in collaboration with Mos-Espa since 2018.
As a complement to the EMRIP's regular sessions, we have installed an intercultural tipi at the Place de Nation in collaboration with Mos-Espa since 2018. From July 9 to 13, that year, we held the KUBUN ISTYSUKA circle of words, where Genevans could meet representatives of the world's indigenous peoples through dialogues, crystal glass concerts, and other ceremonial music.
Among the indigenous representatives who have participated in this space during the following years, we have marakames from the Wixarika (Huichol) people of Mexico, who have also brought us their music, with a representation of the MAIS (Indigenous and Social Alliance Movement of Colombia), to draw attention to the murders of indigenous leaders, peasants, and environmentalists in Colombia since the signing of the peace accords in 2016. At the time, 1,065 people had been murdered (December 2020)_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_
